Which place is cheaper, Cozumel or Montego Bay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Montego Bay or Cozumel?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Montego Bay and Cozumel can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Montego Bay or Cozumel?
Montego Bay
As with most places around the tropical oasis of Jamaica, Montego Bay (or "MoBay") is an ideal place to visit for a Caribbean getaway. It is Jamaica's second largest city and the capital of St. James parish on the northern coast. Montego Bay is considered to be the tourist capital of the country and is where the largest airport is located, bringing in many international travelers.
Cozumel
Cozumel is a Caribbean island just off the Yucatan Peninsula. It'as a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches and excellent snorkeling and scuba diving. With crystal clear waters and vibrant colored coral, Cozumel is one of the most popular dive destinations in the area. The island's economy is centered around tourism, and as such, you'll find plenty of amenities for visitors. The prices are comparable to other coastal towns in the area and there is no shortage of activities or attractions nearby.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, and The Best Adventure Tours to Mexico.
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Montego Bay Prices
Jamaica PricesCozumel Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $255Cozumel $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $255, while the average daily cost in Cozumel is $122. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Montego Bay and Cozumel in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $100Cozumel $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $200Cozumel $126
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Cozumel
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Cozumel? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Montego Bay Hotel Prices and Cozumel Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $14Cozumel $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Kingston: One Way Private Transfer to Montego Bay Airport: $319
- Private Airport Transfers To and From Kingston (KIN) Airport: $200
- Horseback Ride/Swim and Blue Hole Falls Daytrip with Transfers: $190
- Green Grato Caves and Dunns River Falls with Private Transfer : $180
- Riu Resorts Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Roundtrip): $169
- Private Martha Brae Bamboo Rafting Tour with Private Transfer: $135
- Club Mobay VIP Lounge Access and Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $113
- Private Transfer to Dunns River Blue Hole Tubing from Montego Bay: $110
- Private Transfer to Dunn's River Falls and Blue Hole: $110
- Experience Jamaica Private Tour with Airport Transfer: $100
- Airport Transfer Service In Montego bay: $95
- Sandals South Coast Airport Transfer: $80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cozumel
Also for Cozumel, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Transfer from Airport to Hotel: $27
- Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel -Arrival Private Transfer: $51
- ATV tour to jade cavern with transfer (single or double): $55
- Cozumel Mayan Experience And Beach Getaway with Transfer: $55
- Cozumel Jungle ATV Tour Adventure and Caverns with transfer: $65
- Private One Way Transfer from Cozumel to Cozumel Airport: $67
- Private One Way Transfer from Cozumel Airport to Cozumel: $67
- Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $77
- ATV Adventure to Jade Cavern with transfer: $83
- Private Transfer from Cozumel Port to Cozumel Airport (CZM): $93
- Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $154
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Cozumel?
Prices for flights to both Cozumel and Montego Bay change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayMontego Bay $139Cozumel $37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.
- Club2727 Nightlife Experience With Optional Dinner In Montego Bay: $10
- 3 to 5 Hour Private Herbal Tour Shopping and Dinner at Ricks Cafe: $120
- Bar Hopping and Local Food Tour in Jamaica : $130
- Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios Dinner and Nightlife Experience: $150
- Dinner Experience and Celebration on the Beach with Decorations : $158
- PRIVATE Food Tour of Local Jamaican Cuisine Montego Bay & Negril: $190
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cozumel
For Cozumel, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Under the Stars Twilight Snorkel and Seaside Dinner at Money Bar: $90
- Cozumel Food Tour: $90
- Cozumel Food Tour: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $31Cozumel $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Montego Bay
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Montego Bay are as follows:
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Admission to Doctor's Cave Beach$2.63
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Snorkeling Trip$18
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One Tank Dive$37
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1.5 Hr Horseback Ride$42
Tours and Activities in Montego Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Montego Bay are as follows:
- Black River Day Adventure Tour: $92
- Dunn’s River Secret falls with Horse-back&Bamboo Raft Experience: $125
- Falmouth Mystic from Montego Bay Luminous Lagoon Night Tour: $90
- Luminous Lagoon Glow in the Dark Boat Tour from Montego Bay: $65
- Luminous Lagoon Night Tour from Montego Bay: $118
- Private Dolphin Cove Adventure : $250
- 1 Hour Horse Back Riding & Dunn's River Falls Tour Combo: $240
- 3 Hours Private Highlights Tour & Shopping in Montego Bay Jamaica: $100
- 3 Hours Private Tour in Montego Bay From Falmouth: $75
- 7 Mile Beach & Ricks Cafe with free Shopping experience: $50
- ATV Adventure and Rick's Cafe Tour with Transportation: $238
- ATV Jungle Safari Tour from Montego Bay: $125
Tours and Activities in Cozumel
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cozumel.
- Skip the Line: Admission Ticket to El Cedral Town and Mayan Temple: $16
- Transparent Boat Tour in See Marine Life Up Close: $19
- Crystal Boat Trip and Snorkeling Tour from Cozumel: $19
- Crystal-clear Boat trip & Snorkeling tour: $19
- Tequila History and Tasting Experience and Unlimited Beach Break: $25
- El Cielo Snorkeling Adventure in Cozumel: $28
- Cozumel’s Mayan Journey: Dance, Rituals, and Tasting Tour: $29
- Cozumel Snorkeling Tour: Palancar, Columbia and El Cielo Reefs: $29
- Island Tour in Cozumel, Mayan Show & Tacos: $30
- Transparent Boating and Snorkeling Tour in Cozumel All Inclusive: $32
- Bicycle Adventure With Snorkel and Lunch: $33
- VIP Glass Bottom Boat & Snorkeling 3 Reefs Tour: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Cozumel $10
Sample the Local Flavors in Montego Bay
Also in Montego Bay, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Appleton Estate Admission Ticket & Distillery Tour with Tastings: $39
Sample the Local Flavors in Cozumel
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cozumel:
- Chocolate Seaside Workshop & Wine Tasting: $45
- Downtown Cozumel and Brewery Experience: $69
- Rum and Gin at Cozumel First Distillery : $99
- Craft Beer Tasting Experience with Brewery Tour: $99
- Cozumel Mixology Experience at Distillery : $109
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Cozumel, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Cozumel much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Cozumel is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Cozumel would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cozumel and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Montego Bay would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Montego Bay than you might in Cozumel.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Montego Bay Expensive? and Is Cozumel Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Cozumel?
Montego Bay has a larger population, and is about 12% larger than the population of Cozumel. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Cozumel, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.